Woodward was set for Watford

England`s 2003 Rugby Union World Cup-winning coach was in high-level talks with Watford supremo Aidy Boothroyd about a position that would have seen Woodward involved in every area of Watford`s on-pitch development.

However, since the former Southampton FC Technical Director was announced as Elite Performance Director to the British Olympic Team Boothroyd pulled the plug on the talks. Woodward felt that he could combine his British Olympic role with a role at Watford, but Boothroyd deemed that Woodward could not give the necessary time and commitment to The Hornets.

A club insider told The News of the World: "Talks between the two had been going on for weeks. Aidy was very excited as he had put great value on what would have been a newly-created position. He thought that he had got the perfect man and it was all systems go.

"But once the Olympics jobs was announced Aidy made a very rapid decision and Sir Clive was history as far as Watford was concerned. Unlike at Southampton where Sir Clive worked solely with kids, he would have been allowed to play a full part in developing players from the first team downwards.

"It was a golden opportunity which would have seen him having serious input at the club - but it`s gone now."

Boothroyd is a long-term admirer of Woodward, who gave him the idea of staging a mock penalty shoot-out after the Ipswich game last season as preparation for the play-off semi-finals.